Advertising device



(No Model.)

L. M. DEVORE. ADVERTISING DEVICE.

No. 439,866. Patented Nov. 4, 1890.

Z Q? b Z 214/ Mrneyst UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEVI M. DEVORE, OF FREEPORT, ILLINOIS.

ADVERTISING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 439,866, dated November 4, 1890.

Application filed December 19, 1889. Serial No. 334,244. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEVI M. DEVORE, a resident of Freeport, in the county of Stephenson and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Advertising Devices; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

My invention is an improved advertising device embodying as its leading features one or more wind-wheels, together with movable figures or parts of figures adapted to be operated thereby;

One form of advertising device embodying my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, as described herein, and the nature and scope of the invention are set forth in the claims forming a part hereof.

In the drawings referred to, Figure l is a side elevation of the device, the View being in the direction indicated by the arrow or; of Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device, the view being in the opposite direction. Fig. 3 is a top plan of the entire device, except the figure adapted to be operated by the rotation of one of the wind-wheels. Fig. 4 is an elevation of the supporting-rod B of the device and the vane fastened thereto, the view being in the direction indicated by the arrow m, Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a modified form of the operating mech- 'anism.

In Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, A isabar having the shape of the backbone of a bicycle of ordinary construction, and A A are approximately vertical extensions formed integrally therewith and corresponding in shape and position with the operating-standard and seatsupport of a bicycle. The bar A is also provided with integrally-formed forks a 0.",

A third axle d" is jouropposite ends of this axle are rigidly fastened a crank-plate P and a sprocket-wheel S', said crank-plate and sprocket-wheel being provided with crank-pinsp p, and the sprocketwheel being in the same vertical plane with a second sprocket-wheel S, rigidly mounted on the end of the axle d of the wind-wheel D. The two sprocket-wheels S S are connected by means of asprocket-chain S, and the ro tation of the wind-wheelD is thus transmitted directly to the sprocket-wheel S and crankplate P. The two wind-wheels are so constructed that when operated upon by a current of air moving in the direction indicated by the arrow at in Fig. 3 they turn in the direction indicated by the arrows on their peripheries in Fig. 1, and the arrangement of the sprocket-wheels and chain is such that the crank-plate P and sprocket-wheel S must turn inthe same direction as the wind-wheels.

Upon the upper end of the extension A, which corresponds to the seat-support of a bicycle, is rigidly fastened the representation of the body of a man in the position of a bicycle-rider, and to this body are joined suitably articulated legs and arms, the hands at the ends of the arms being secured to the handles a, and the feet being pivoted upon the crank-pins p sprocket-wheel S The rotation of the wind- Wheel D and the consequent rotation of the sprocket-wheel S and crank-plate P with their crank-pins p 12 evidently impart to the legs of the figure the same movements as those of the legs of a bicycle-rider when operating his machine, and the entire device when operated by the wind simulates precisely the motion of a bicycle and its rider, except that the body of the machine is stationary instead of moving forward as its wheels are rotated, The whole device makes a very novel and attractive sign calculated to secure attention, and adapted to use at any place of business, but more properly as an advertisement to an establishment for the manufacture of bicycles or tricycles.

The sign or advertising device thus described may be supported in any suitable manner; but I prefer to provide the main bar support and the backbone proper, and on the of the crank-plate P and A with a vertical supporting-bar B, jou rnaled in a suitable bracket E, and provided with a vane V, rigidly fastened to the bar B and adapted to hold the two wind-wheels D D at right angles to the wind. The vane may be fastened to the rod B in any suitable manner, but preferably by means of a collar 1; encircling the bar and held in place by a setscrew, and it is advisable to balance the vane by means of a weight W, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4:. By thus providing the device with a vane and a swiveling support the two wind-wheels are held always in the wind, and the operation of the device continues so long as there is sufficient wind to operate it, no matter what the direction of the wind-current may be.

It is evident that both of the wind-wheels may be connected with the mechanism for driving the legs or other parts of the figure supported by the frame-as, for instance, in the manner illustrated in Fig. 5, in which P P" are crank-plates, mounted on the respective axles of the wind-wheels, and L L are pitmen connecting them with the crank-plate P. The crank-pins maybe so arranged as to overcome the dead-centers and the power of both of the wheels is exerted to the best advantage in operating the moving parts of the figure. When both the wheels are thus coupled to the figure they must run simultaneously and at the same rate of speed. It is equally evident that a single wind-wheel or a number of them may be mounted in any analogous manner and maybe combined with any desired movable part or parts, so as to operate the same.

Since any given form-as, for instance, the one illustrated in the drawings-may be made of suitable size to be sold as a toy, and I intend, in fact, to use certain forms of my i11- vention for that purpose, I do not wish to limit myself to the construction of advertising devices.

Having now described and explained the invention and its purposes, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. The combination, with a wheeled-vehicle-frame and a suitable support therefor, of wind-wheels mounted upon said frame in the normal position of its wheels, a figure supported by the frame, and devices connecting one or more of the wind-wheels with parts of the figure, whereby the wind may put the figure in motion.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination, with a'bicycle-frame and a suitable support therefor, of two wind-wheels mounted on said frame in positions corresponding to those of the wheels of a bicycle, a figure supported by said frame and representinga bicycle-rider, and means connecting one or both of said wind-wheels with parts of said figure to operate the same, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination, with the frame formed substantially as shown and described, 0f the wind-wheels D D, mounted on suitable axles journaled therein, the independent axle d, journaled in the frame and provided with a crank-plate I, and sprocketwheel S, mounted on its ends, the sprocket-wheel S, mounted on the axle of the wind-wheel D, and the sprocket-chain S", connecting the sprocketwheels S S, the figure of a bicycle-rider supported by the frame and having suitablyjointed legs, and the crank-pins p p connecting the feet of the figure with the crankplate P and sprocket-wheel S, whereby the rotation of the wheel D operates the legs of the figure, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LEVI M. DEVORE. Witnesses:

J. A. GRAIN, O. H. SMITH. 

